Napkin holder construction



June 14, 1960 c. B. SUNDBERG 2,940,593

NAPKIN HOLDER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 16, 1959 INVENTOR. CAPL B. SUNDBbEG A TTOEN Y5 NAPKIN HOLDER CONSTRUCTZON Carl B. Sundberg, Meriden, Conn., assignor to The international Silver Company, Meriden, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Sept. 16,1959, Ser. No. 840,352

7 Claims. 01. 211-50 This invention relates to an improved holder for table napkins and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a napkin holder for supporting a pack of napkins in an upright lobately folded condition and enabling one or more of said napkins to be readily removed from the holder without disturbing the remaining napkins.

Another object of this invention is to provide a napkin holder of the above type which presents a pleasing appearance and supports the pack of napkins in a decorative configuration.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is an isometric view of a napkin holder embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the napkin holder; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 a napkin holder embodying this invention is shown supporting a pack of napkins 2 in an upstanding condition. As indicated, the holder is integrally formed of sheet material such as metal, plastic, wood, and the like, and includes a body portion 4 and supporting legs 5. The body 4 of the napkin holder is defined by upright Walls formed into a trifoliate shape providing a rearwardly opening front or center chamber or pocket 6 and two generally forward opening rear or side chambers or pockets 8. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the napkin pack is supported by the holder in a lobately folded U-shaped configuration without crimping or creasing the napkins. The folded portion 10 of the napkin pack is disposed in the central chamber 6 and opposite upright edges 12 of the napkins are received within the side chambers of the holder.

Looking at Fig. 2 the holder body 4 comprises a front wall 14 and side walls which include rearwardly extending generally parallel portions 15 and outwardly diverging portions 18 forming an obtuse dihedral angle with the parallel portions. From the outer edges .of the diverging walls 18 the body 4 further includes rearwardly converging walls 20 and forwardly and inwardly extending walls 22 which are generally parallel to the diverging walls 18 and terminate in laterally spaced relation opposite the front chamber 6. The side wall portions 15 and 18 fair together in concavely curved wall portions 24 disposed intermediate the front and rear chambers and having radii r located outwardlyof the body of the holder.

The front chamber 6 is generally U-shaped being defined by the front wall 14 and the side wall portions 15. The side wall portions define an opening facing toward the center of the holder. The rear chambers 8 are defined by the outwardly diverging side wall portions 18 and the walls 20 and 22. The rear chambers are also of generally U-shaped configuration opening generally toward the center of the holder. It will be noted that the opening of the front chamber is approximately twice nited States Patent 0 Patented June 14, 1960 as large as the openings of the rear chambers to freely accommodate the fold, of the napkin pack without creasing the napkins.

The length ofthe side walls from the front chamber 6 to each of the rear chambers is approximately equal to half the width of the napkinpack. When the napkin pack is disposedwithin the holder as shownin Fig. 1, opposed outer surface portions of the napkin pack, intermediate the fold 10 and the upstanding edge portions 12, are engaged by the curved wall portions 24 and a curvature such as indicated at 26 is imparted to the napkin pack. Inner surface portions of the pack adjacent the upright edges 12 are engaged by the walls 22, the upright edge portions are thus held in outwardly diverging relation. The walls 22 thus bend or fold the side portions of the napkin pack around wall portions 24 and increase the upright rigidity of the pack which is, in eifect, held by the holder in a corrugated condition.

As seen in the drawing, the holder is open at its top whereby the napkin pack may be grasped along its side edges 12, folded into generally U-shape, and inserted downwardly into the holder. The side edges are inserted in the side pockets and the folder is received in the center pocket.

Even though the napkins are rigidly retained in upright condition, the chambers of the holder are of suflicient size to loosely receive both the folded and upright edge portions of the napkin pack. This reduces the intersurface friction of the napkins of the pack and enables one or more of the napkins to be easily removed from the holder without disturbing the remaining nap- The body portion of the holder is supported in spaced relation to an underlying surface by means of the legs 5. The legs are in the form of tabs which are curved inwardly from the lower edge-portions of the front Wall 14 and inwardly extending walls 22. These tabs provide legs for the napkin holder and assist in retaining the napkins within the body of the holder permitting the holder to be moved from place to place without dropping its contents.

Preferably the holder is made of deformable sheet metal. In such case an additional advantage may be gained in enabling the user to adjust the disposition of the containing side walls of the device to vary the grip or pressure thereof against opposing halves of the napkin pack. In this way various sizes of napkin packs or napkins of different paper material can be attractively displayed to insure the straight upright condition thereof in the holder. That is to say the opposed curved portions at 24 (Fig. 2) may be brought closer together to increase the ability of the holder to support the pack in an upright condition. This may be done without sacrificing or seriously impairing the advantageous characteristics of the holder as previously described particularly with respect to the inter-surface friction between individual napkins. Deformation of the holder as described would be particularly desirable where the holder Will be normally used for a small number of napkins or where the composition of the napkin material is of an abnormally limp character. Where an unusually thick pack of napkins is placed in the holder it may, of course, be desirable to spread the Walls 15 apart to an extent greater than shown by the substantially parallel condition seen in Fig. 2 to accommodate the larger size. The walls 22 may, of course, also be bent outwardly relative to opposing walls 18 of the rear pockets 8 to vary the extent of divergence of the upstanding edge portions of a pack. It should be noted, however, that the free edges of the walls 22 should preferably remain in a spaced relation substantially approximating the spacing between the curved wall portions 24.

Having described this i" ve'ntion what is claimed is: l; A napkin holder comprisinga"body'defined'by'up right walls of sheet materialtformed into a trifoliate shape "for holding a pack of napkins in edgewise, upright and lobately folded; condition; said bodYihehidihgfthiee-uiv right chambers having" opposed openin'g s, 1 one of: said chambers being of suflicient size. to rece'ive the folded portion .of the pack' withjout' creasing" themapkins; the

others vofj sa id"chambers being disposed'f relative to said one-chamber to receive the oppositenprightf edge portions of the folded napkin. packand hold 'said'edge'portions in: outwardly divergent relation: i V

2. A napkin holder comprisingan integrakhodydefined by ,uprightwalls of sheetmaterial formed into a trifoliate shape forholding a packoffnapkins i fedg'ewisegupright and Iobately folded'condi'ti'on, sai body includingja V and side wall portions defining in part said side chambers anddiverging outwardly at an obtuse angle to theside wall portions defining said center chamber, the distance between eachof said side chambers and said center chamher being approximately equal to one-half the width of said napkin pack whereby said side chambers receive the upright edgeportions of'the folded napkin pack and hold them in. outwardly .divergingrelation when the folded portion of the pack is disposed insaid center chamber, the: angled portion. of saidv sidewalls being engaged with I opposite side portionsof said pack'intermecliate. the fold center chamber. and two-side" chambers extendingthe height of saidwalls, said chambjersj includingmpposed openings. extending throughout their height, said cen e chamber being ofsuifici'ent size to receive thel'folded portion of the napkin pack. without creasing the; napkins,

said body including side wall" 7 ions definingfin part saidsid'e chambers and disposed in outwardly". diverging relation to said; center chamber, thje distance, between each of said. side. chamber and said' center. chamber '3. A napkin holdrlcomprisingan integialb'odydefined chamber. being of suflicientplsizeuto receive the. folded 1 portion of the napkin packwithout creasingthe napkins,

said body including. side wall, portions defining in part saidcenterchamber. and side wallportions, defining jnl partsaidside chambers;andhdiverging outwardly at an obtusesangle. to the. side wallportions defining said centerchamber, the distance between each of said sidechambers and: said; center chamber. being. approximately equal to V one-half the width of saidnapkin pack where'by said side chambers receive the upright edge. portionsoftt he folded napkin pack .and holdthem in outwardly diirergingrelationwhen. the foldof thepack isdisposedin said center chamber, the angled portion. of said. side. walls being engaged-With opposite side portions ofisaid napkin pack intermediate the fold and upstanding. edge portions therei V of. and. imparting an upright corrugation thereto which increases. the upright rigidity of said pack.

4; A napkin holder comprising a. body defined. by uprightwalls of. sheet material formed into a trifoliate shape forv holding a pack v. of. napkins in edgewise, upright and V lobately folded condition, said .body including; a center chamber and two side chambers extending, the height of said walls, said chambers-being generally U-shaped and opening toward each other, said center chamber being of sufficient size to. receive thefolded portion of theinapkin pack without creasing the. napkins, said body including side wall portions definingin: part .said: center: chamber around said opppsed walliportions and, upstanding edge portions t'nereofand imparting an upright corrugation thereto Whichincreases; the upright rigidity of said pack, and legs in the form of tabs extending downwardly and inwardly from lower edge portions of said upright walls.

5. A napkin holder for supporting a pack of napkins in folded relation with. thepack standing on, oneedge,

said holder comprisingra body opengat; ifs t op and d8? fined by uprightwal-ls, shaped to provide, anupright center and. twoside pockets extending, the height. of said walls and, of generally U-shap'ed? configuration opening toward one another; said. body including side wallslder. fining in part the center and .sidepockets thereof, the portionsof said'side walls defininglthe sidepockets, being disposed in outwardly diverging relation to the portions of the sidewalls which definev the center pocket, the distance between each side pocket and the center pocket being approximately halfthe'widthof the pack: of napkins to besupportedby saidv holderwhereby saidpack may begraspedalong opposed sideedges folded into generally U-shape and the side edges inserted into;the

side pockets with the intermediate. folded portions ofthe pack being received in thecenter pocket.

6. A napkin holder comprisinga body: for supporting a pack of napkins in-edgewise upright.and'lobately folded condition, said body comprisingopposed upright wall portions spaced to engage opposed outer. surface. portions of said: pack intermediatefthgefold and uprightedgeportions thereof andwall portions positioned to engage inner surface portions of' s aid pack adjacentits upright edges and disposed outwardly; of said opposed wall por: tionssufiiciently to bend the. sideppflions of said pack 7 V l V thereby imparting 'upright rigidity tosaidpack. I

71 A n pk d s ac ti ls s e k f. P in-edgewise, upright and lobatel folded condition and. comprising I supporting;v means to support the. lower. edge:

'of'the pack, opposed upright portions extending .,upward- 1y from said supportingnieansand spacedto en gagevop posed outer surface portions of said; pack'mtermediate the fold and upright edge portions thereof, and upright portions positioned. to engage inner surface. portions of said'pack adjacent its'upriglht edges and disposed out wardly of said, opposed portionssufliciently to bend the side portions; of said; pack around said opposed portions, thereby imparting upright rigidity to said pack.

References Cited in the-file. of. this patent UNITED STATES-PATENTS D. 141,501 'Pemz June-5, 19 1,Q2Q,175 'Arnold Mar. 12,, 1912 2,098,477 :Welsh Nov. 9; 1937 2,202,267 Pos'nack May- 23,1940

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